Outpatient receptionist

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Ward Receptionist to support the Renal Dialysis Unit at Southmead Hospital. You will provide a professional reception and admin service for patients, visitors and clinicians, manage patient records, book appointments, arrange transport, and help maintain confidentiality and high standards of customer service.

Working closely with nursing and medical teams, you will ensure smooth day-to-day operation, coordinate admissions and discharges, and contribute

Qualifications

• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent qualification
• Previous experience in a reception, administration, or customer service role
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, including a professional telephone manner
• Competent IT and keyboard skills, with experience using computerised systems
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload, work independently, and maintain confidentiality
• Previous NHS or healthcare environment experience
• Knowledge of patient administration processes and medical records systems

Responsibilities

• Welcoming patients and visitors, managing telephone enquiries, maintaining patient records and bookings
• Booking appointments and arranging patient transport
• Coordinating admissions and discharges, transfers, and transport arrangements
• Processing referrals and supporting communication between patients, nursing staff and other departments

Skills

Communication

Telephone manner

IT skills

Organisation

Confidentiality

Education

GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or above)

Tools

Computerised systems

Job description

North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This creates an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.

We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) describes algorithms that can be used to produce new content, including audio, code, images, text, simulations, and videos. It is developing all the time and is now being used as a support mechanism for all kinds of content-based creations. Please note the use of AI is monitored and if applicants have used it then they are required to declare this.

Job Overview

The Ward Receptionist plays a key role in supporting the smooth day-to-day operation of the Renal Dialysis Unit at Southmead Hospital. The post holder provides a professional reception and administrative service for patients, visitors, and clinical staff, ensuring accurate patient records, appointment management, transport arrangements, and effective communication across the multidisciplinary team. Working closely with nursing and medical staff, the receptionist helps deliver an efficient, high-quality service while maintaining confidentiality, professionalism, and a welcoming environment for patients and their families.

Main duties of the job

The Ward Receptionist is responsible for providing a professional and efficient reception and administrative service within the Renal Dialysis Unit. Key duties include welcoming patients and visitors, managing telephone enquiries, maintaining patient records, booking appointments, arranging patient transport, coordinating admissions and discharges, ordering supplies, processing referrals, and supporting communication between patients, nursing staff, medical teams, and other departments. The post holder plays an important role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of the unit while maintaining high standards of confidentiality, accuracy, and customer service.

Working for our organisation

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

Please see attached Job description.

The Ward Receptionist is responsible for providing a comprehensive reception and administrative service to support the smooth operation of the Renal Dialysis Unit. The post holder acts as the first point of contact for patients, relatives, visitors, and healthcare professionals, ensuring a welcoming, professional, and efficient service at all times. They work closely with nursing, medical, and multidisciplinary teams to coordinate patient appointments, admissions, discharges, transfers, and transport arrangements while maintaining accurate patient records and documentation.

Person specification

GCSE

Essential criteria

• GCSE English and Maths (Grade C/4 or above) or equivalent qualification
• Previous experience in a reception, administration, or customer service role
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, including a professional telephone manner
• Competent IT and keyboard skills, with experience using computerised systems
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload, work independently, and maintain confidentiality

Desirable criteria

• Previous NHS or healthcare environment experience
• Knowledge of patient administration processes and medical records systems

We hope that you will decide to join us and become part of this exciting journey, helping us to shape our future together.

• As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
• The Trust is committed to investing in and caring for all our staff. We will support you in maintaining and improving your health and wellbeing, as well as your career development through management and training support - developing exceptional people for exceptional careers.
• BFT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• To comply with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 all applicants must be able to speak fluent English to an appropriate standard which will be assessed at Interview.
• If you require sponsorship for a visa to work in the UK, to avoid disappointment, please check to ensure you are eligible under the UKVI points based system.
• The Trust uses electronic new starter forms on Trac to collect personal details. Information collected is securely stored and used to set up the employee record on the ESR HR system.
• By applying for this post, you are agreeing to Bristol NHS Foundation Trust transferring the information contained in this application to its preferred applicant management system. If you are offered a job, information will also be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Important

Please note that if you apply for a position with this Trust, you may be contacted via Trac or via email. This includes invites for job interviews. We therefore recommend that you regularly check your Trac account and email accounts. We may also contact you by texting the mobile number, if provided, on the application form.

Only those candidates who clearly demonstrate how they meet the person specification will be shortlisted for this job.

As a guide interviews should usually take place within 3 weeks of the closing date.

When providing employment reference details, please provide correct work-related email addresses so references can be sought promptly when we are looking to progress your application. Your referee must all be known to you in a line manager or professional lead capacity.